Health Notes Health Notes (April 14, 2004)

Program on toxics

A panel discussion on toxic contamination in homes and communities is set for Tuesday, April 20, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 2000 University Ave., East Palo Alto.

The free program, "Your Health Matters: Protecting Your Loved Ones from Harmful Chemicals in Our Environment," is sponsored by Gray Cary, a national law firm that has an office in East Palo Alto.

Program speakers will be Peter Hero, president of Community Foundation Silicon Valley; and Patti Chang, president and CEO of the Women's Foundation of California.

Panelists will include: Hilary Abell, executive director of WAGES; Sheila Davis, project director of Clean Computer Campaign, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition; Maria Rosales of Emma's Eco-Clean service; and Ted Smith, founder and executive director of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. Michelle Guido, women's issues reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, will moderate the panel discussion.

A reception will follow the program. Participants are asked to reserve a spot at the event by calling 408-278-2211; or by e-mail at mtamisiea@cfsv.org.

Forum on kids' weight

"Watching Children's Weight: What You and Your School Can Do" will be presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, at Graham Middle School, 1175 Castro St., in Mountain View.

The free forum will address a number of questions, including:

** Do you know what foods and snacks your kids can buy at school?

** How can parents help make school food more healthful?

** Why doesn't every school have a physical education program?

** Do vending machines belong on campus?

Panelists will include Dr. Thomas Robinson, director of the Center for Healthy Weight at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford; Marjorie Freedman, a nutritionist who is restructuring the food service at her daughter's school on a volunteer basis; and local students, who will talk about what they choose to eat at school and why.

A representative of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which recently released the findings of a study on kids and obesity, will also attend.

Although there is no admission charge, reservations are recommended by April 16 because space is limited. To reserve a spot at the event, call 724-5778.

Benefit performance

An afternoon at the theater -- for a performance of TheatreWorks' "My Antonia" -- and a party and silent auction afterward are set for Saturday, April 24, to raise money for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) research.

The performance is at 2 p.m. at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on Castro Street in Mountain View. The party and auction will follow in the City Hall rotunda, across the courtyard from the theater.

Cost is $50 for the performance and party; $35 for the performance only; and $20 for the party only. The event is sponsored by the volunteer-run Families of SMA. A neuromuscular disease, SMA is a leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers.

Checks should be made payable to Families of SMA, and mailed to FSMA, P.O. Box 3831, Los Altos, CA 94024. For more information, call 948-3192, or log on at www.CureSMA.com.

Alzheimer's support group

A support group for family members and caregivers of people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease will meet on Wednesday, April 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the library of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 975 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park.

The group is sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Participants share practical information, offer mutual support, and learn new ways of coping with dementia.

More information about the support group may be obtained by calling Sue Sheehan at 851-0296. Additional information about the association may be obtained by logging on at www.alznorcal.org, or by calling 1-800-660-1993.

Breast cancer programs

A series of free educational workshops for young women with breast cancer is being sponsored by the Breast Health Project.

The first two sessions focus on the short- and long-term effects of chemotherapy; and fertility and pregnancy issues. Both are from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Breast Health Project lounge, 545 Bryant St., in Palo Alto.

The chemotherapy workshop is on Tuesday, April 20; Dr. Cathie Chung will speak. On Tuesday, May 4, Dr. Lyn Westphal will speak about fertility and pregnancy.

For more information and to reserve a seat at the workshop, call 326-6686.

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